Western Australia man charged with child exploitation offences

A 31-year-old man is due to face Perth Magistrates Court today (12 July 2019) after being charged with child exploitation offences originally detected by authorities in Canada and the United States.

In June 2019, the Western Australia JACET – which comprises of officers from the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and Western Australia Police – received a referral from the Canadian National Child Exploitation Coordination Centre (NCECC). The referral identified a social media user who had uploaded child exploitation material online.

A subsequent referral from the US National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) identified further details associated with the user. Enquiries by JACET members linked these details to a 31-year-old Manjimup man.

On 25 June 2019, members from the WA JACET executed a search warrant at a Manjimup address. Two mobile phones were seized and the man was charged with the following offences:

one count of possession of child exploitation material, contrary to section 220 of the Criminal Code Act 1913 (WA) a

one count of failing to comply with an order to assist with access to computer data contrary to section 3LA(5) of the Crimes Act 1914 (Cth).

These offences attract maximum penalties of seven years and five years imprisonment, respectively.

Police will allege that the man used the mobile phones to access, download and store child exploitation material.

Members of the public who have any information about people involved in child sexual exploitation are urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Note to media: USE OF TERM 'CHILD EXPLOITATION', NOT 'CHILD PORNOGRAPHY'

Use of the phrase "child pornography" benefits child sex abusers because it:

indicates legitimacy and compliance on the part of the victim and therefore legality on the part of the abuser; and

conjures images of children posing in 'provocative' positions, rather than suffering horrific abuse.

Every photograph captures an actual situation where a child has been abused. This is not "pornography".